"Industrial Ghost Town" Mare Island by SteveOSF

Mare Island Travel Guide: 3 reviews and 14 photos

The Oldest Navy Base on the West Coast...

Mare Island is situated within the City of Vallejo in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is approximately 3.5 miles long by 0.5 miles wide. For 140 years, Mare Island served as a U.S. Navy base. The base was founded in 1854. 512 ships were built during the naval base’s tenure, including the U.S.S. California, the only battleship built on the west coast of the United States. Numerous other ships were repaired in its dry docks. The base closed in 1996, beginning an era of conversion to civilian use for Mare Island.

Is Now Closed

Bridge at the Mare Island Causeway

Navy sentries no longer guard the entrance near the bridge at the Mare Island Causeway.

Last visit to Mare Island: Sep 2008
Intro Written Oct 8, 2008
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Reviews (3)

Mare Island Naval Museum Things to Do (1)

The Mare Island Naval Museum is located in a historic building that was constructed in 1855. The museum contains... more travel advice

Proposed Future Home of the U.S.S. Iowa Favorites (2)

Mare Island is the proposed home for the battleship U.S.S. Iowa. The ship is destined to become a floating museum. The... more travel advice

Base Conversion Favorites (2)

Wandering through portions of Mare Island on a weekend, and you might believe you have stumbled into an industrial ghost... more travel advice

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Comments (5)

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atufft Feb 23, 2009 at 8:25 PM

Steve--Mare Is does have harzardous waste problems big time as it used to produce nuke subs, among other things. I recall seeing one launched from dry dock in champagne ceremony in the late 1960's. Thanks for the tips...alan
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cachaseiro Oct 30, 2008 at 9:49 PM

that looks really interesting. i´d love to go there.
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Lhenne1 Oct 12, 2008 at 1:56 PM

Nice page! There's something a little spooky about the old, run-down and closed military bases. I work on the old Fort Ord and it can be eerie at times :). Thanks for stopping by my Frankfurt page! ~Laura
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Maria250 Oct 9, 2008 at 12:37 PM

Great tip on Mare Island Naval Museum! Amazing photos too! Thanks for stopping by Nuremberg page.
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Ewingjr98 Oct 8, 2008 at 5:34 PM

Some of those abandoned buildings look like old, deserted Fort Ord here in the Monterey area. Luckily there is lots of money here, and the base is being cleaned up and redeveloped.